Anahat Singh becomes first Indian to win World Junior Squash Championship

India's Anahat Singh makes history, ends Egypt's 15-year junior squash reign

Anahat Singh etched her name in Indian squash history on Saturday by becoming the first player from the country to win the World Junior Squash Championships girls' singles title, defeating Egypt's Ruqayya Salem 3-0 in the 2026 final.

The top-seeded Indian, currently ranked No. 20 in the world on the senior PSA Tour, dominated second seed Salem with a commanding 11-3, 11-7, 11-9 victory to claim the historic title. Her triumph surpassed the previous best Indian performance at the junior world championships—Joshna Chinappa's runner-up finish in 2005, which had stood for more than two decades. Chinappa went on to achieve a career-high world ranking of No. 10 in 2016 and has won 19 national titles, cementing her status as one of India's most successful squash players.

The 18-year-old Singh maintained complete control throughout the final, capping a dominant campaign in which she dropped just two games across six matches. She began her run with a straight-games victory over Australian qualifier Lilly Wilson before defeating Hong Kong China's Pui Yin Chloe Lo and Malaysia's Doyce Ye San Lee to reach the quarter-finals.

Singh then overcame Egypt's Habiba Rizk 3-1 (11-7, 11-5, 6-11, 11-9) in the last eight before defeating another Egyptian, Barb Sameh, 3-1 (11-3, 8-11, 11-4, 11-6) in the semi-finals to set up the title clash.

Breaking Egyptian dominance

Singh's victory ended Egypt's remarkable run of success in the junior girls' world championship, with Egyptian players having held the title since 2011. Egypt's women's junior squash team has appeared in every World Junior Team Championship final from 2003 onwards and won 12 of 14 championships between 1999 and 2025, demonstrating a quarter-century of dominance in the sport.

The absence of four-time champion Amina Orfi, who is no longer eligible to compete in the junior event, opened the door for a new champion. Orfi had won the World Junior Squash Championships four consecutive times from 2022 to 2025, becoming the first player in history to achieve this feat after claiming her first title at age 15 in 2022.

Singh had already ended India's 15-year wait for an individual medal at the junior world championships last year, winning bronze in Cairo. This time, she went one step further by securing the gold.

Rising star's journey

Singh became India's No. 1 women's squash player in March 2025 when she reached world No. 68 in the PSA rankings, overtaking Akanksha Salunkhe. Her career ranking progression has been remarkable, climbing from world No. 406 in April 2023 to breaking into the top 100 at No. 93 in November 2024, before eventually reaching her current position.

Beyond junior competitions, Singh has also tasted success at senior multi-sport events, winning bronze medals in the women's team event and mixed doubles, partnering Abhay Singh, at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou.

Singh was the only Indian player to make a deep run in the girls' singles draw at this year's championship. Rudra Singh, Anika Dubey and Saanvi Kalanki were eliminated in the round of 32. In the boys' singles, reigning Asian junior champion Aryaveer Dewan was India's best performer, reaching the last 16, while Yusha Nafees and Gurveer Singh exited in the round of 32, and Purav Rambhia was knocked out in the round of 64.

Olympic future beckons

Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya congratulated Singh on her landmark achievement.

History Made! Congratulations to Anahat Singh on becoming the first Indian ever to win the World Squash Junior Championship. A phenomenal achievement and a proud moment for every Indian,

Mandaviya wrote on X.

Singh will now look to build on her historic junior success as squash prepares to make its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Games. The sport was approved for inclusion after four unsuccessful previous attempts to join the Olympic program, finally receiving approval at the IOC's 141st session in Mumbai. Competition will be held at Universal Studios Lot in Los Angeles over 10 days beginning July 15, 2028, one day after the opening ceremony, featuring 16 men and 16 women competing in singles events.

Her achievement follows in the footsteps of previous Indian squash pioneers. Dipika Pallikal became the first Indian woman squash player to reach the world number 10 ranking in 2012, a milestone later matched by Chinappa in 2016, demonstrating that Indian players can compete at the highest levels of the sport.